Love Without Hope

The she-baboon adored that infant child,

and nursed it as it ailed.  And even dead,

it was her darling.  Struggling through the wild,

the mother had to flee when clan-mates fled.

She couldn't bear to put the baby down.

With logic obvious to any mother,

she lugged the limp, lank, ugly thing around.

It hindered her.  She lagged behind the others.

I've borne this torch too long.  You're just not worth

the misery it costs me, day on day.  

I should have shrieved you, shunted you away,

or better yet, have strangled you at birth.

Hope always rots away to suffering,

but something in our nature bids us cling.